Youth Activities: Ask Youth to Help You Recognize Veterans this Fall & Winter

Youth Activities: Ask Youth to Help You Recognize Veterans this Fall & Winter

I love this time of year! Baseball is coming to a close with the Royals winning the World Series (at least I hope they do!), Chiefs football is in full swing (though they’re not doing too well), University of Kentucky basketball is ready for a full court press, and kids are in school and looking forward to fall and winter break! And, most importantly, there are several days left in the year to recognize and honor our veterans. Some ideas on ways to get youth involved on these special days are listed below:

• Invite Boy Scout and/or Girl Scout troops to participate in flag retiring ceremonies.
• Ask ROTC cadets to honor veterans with active involvement in burial detail.
• Encourage young people to help with placement of flags at cemeteries.
• Involve families in Buddy Poppy drives.
• Ask if Buddy Poppies can be distributed at local sports events.  If there is time during half time or before the game, show “The Veterans Behind the “Buddy”® Poppy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TUjEMJjSZY)

• Ask youth to help with the collection, assembly, and distribution of food baskets for those in need.
• In reflection of all we have to be thankful for, ask local schools to participate in a clothing or toiletry drive for Operation Stand Down.
• Have youth create Thanksgiving-related crafts to give to veterans.
• Visit the National Organization’s “All About Thanksgiving” Pinterest board for more ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/vfwauxiliary/all-about-thanksgiving/

• Invite the Post/Auxiliary or District Voice of Democracy winner to read FDR’s “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” (http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-infamy.htm)

Christmas (December 25)

• Invite the school choir to join VFW and Auxiliary members at VA Facilities to serenade the patients with song.
• Encourage youth to “adopt a grandparent” and commit to visiting with, reading to, sharing stories with and writing letters for their “grandparent.”
• Ask young people to help collect, box and ship items to deployed service members.
• Have youth create holiday-related crafts to give to veterans.
• Visit the National Organization’s “All About Christmas/Winter” Pinterest board for more ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/vfwauxiliary/all-about-christmaswinter

Winter months

• This time of year is a great time to encourage teens to participate in the Legislative Program by voter registration.
• Invite local candidates to the post for town hall meetings/debates. Ask your local high school debate team and/or civics class to ask questions of the candidates.